777 ranch hosts cowboy poetry event and dinner

Three 777 Ranch in Ferron hosted their annual country western music and cowboy poetry event. When the guests arrived on this bright cloudless, sunny afternoon at the Three 777 Ranch.

They were met by Pam Benbrooks, a young woman from Macon, Georgia and a saddle horse. Over under the cottonwood trees a little way east of the lane to the ranch were three cowboy cooks. They were cooking over a charcoal fire tri-tip roasts, chicken and pieces of mountain lion. One of the cooks offered a sample taste and claimed that he had shot the mountain lion earlier that day east of the ranch. The cooks were Mark Moffett, Ed Carey and Brad Benson.

Tom and Jeannie Wetterman and her dog Bella from New Mexico were driving a pair of mules pulling a wagon and giving the guests rides. Tom Wetterman is a skilled mule driver. Wetterman said he drives mules for Wells Fargo at various events around the United States. He also said their son is working on the ranch and attending the horsemanship camp. The Wetterman's have been coming here for the last six or seven years and they have known Rick and Jennie Benson for more than 25 years.

Rick Benson welcomed everyone to the dinner and Cowboy Poetry. He then introduced Pastor Tim Lacock who gave a prayer and blessing on the food. The ranch crew had arranged two rows of food tables and the guests were observed going down both sides of each row of tables filling their plates with steaks cut from the tri-tip roasts, chicken, potato salad, baked potatoes, rolls, lemonade, cakes, pies and several other good foods.

Jeff Gore and Jean Prescott from Texas were the main part of the entertainment. Their stage was a flatbed truck at the north end of the huge barn. Gore and Prescott have recorded on compact discs and made them available for sale. Gore and Prescott entertained last year at the Three 777 Ranch.

The first song sung by Gore was "Colorado Trail". When the song ended Gore said he tells many stories with his songs and poetry. The title of his next song was, "I Know Too Many Stories For A Song". And I know too many people to bring them all along. The song told of events where he had met various people.

Ron Eamon of Tooele presented his version of Cowboy Poetry. Both Eamon and Gore have mustaches and they discussed a competition. Eamon said could you imagine the look on Gore's mothers face when he was born with that mustache. Eamon said he wanted to be a Western singer like Gore.

Eamon's first Cowboy story started with: My everyday silver is plastic; my John Deere was breaking your field while your Dear John was breaking my heart. My wife ran away with my best friend and I sure do miss him. I have got hair oil on my ears, my glasses are slipping down but baby I can see through you. The next time you throw your frying pan in my face I ain't going to be there. They may put me in prison but they can't stop my face from breaking out. When you leave, walk out backwards and think you are walking in. You can't have your cake and eat it too. You are only a splinter as I slide down the banister of life. These are song titles I would like to hear.

Eamon then quoted several great cowboy poems such as "Pertineer Perkins" and "Jack Carters Courtin." Then he quoted the poem about, "The Cowboy and The Sea Gull," and "The Whole Load."

Jennie Benson performed additional musical entertainment on the accordion, with Katie Benson, and Elizabeth Baiebe on fiddles.

Gore introduced Jean Prescott of Ovalo, Texas as the gold standard of cowboy music sung by ladies. She has won just about every award a cowgirl singer can win in the United States of America. Prescott began with patriotic songs in remembrance of Memorial Day. Her first song was "These Things Say Freedom To Me." She talked about our children not being able to say the pledge of allegiance in so many places and they do not know what their freedom is all about. Then she sang a song about the US Flag followed by "I've Got the Cowgirl Blues." Prescott has a beautiful voice for yodeling which she included in several of her songs. She spent some of her time teaching the audience how to yodel. Prescott then told a story of a new 4-year-old mare she purchased at a horse auction.

The horse had three bright shiny staples holding an ear in place. When Jean was waiting for the papers on the horse from the owner a little boy came by and told her about the horse.

The little boy said it took them three hours to get the horse in the trailer and they had to throw the mare to trim her feet. These comments did not give her much confidence about making a good purchase.

Prescott said I have to say she turned out to be a great riding horse.

Gore quoted George Washington as saying, "When They Do Not Teach The Children The Bible In School. There Will Be Rampant Crime In The Hallways." Gore sang a few additional cowboy songs and told country western stories before closing the program by asking the audience to sing with him "Amazing Grace."

Rick Benson thanked everyone for coming and taking part in this great event followed by the audience singing "How Great Thou Art" led by Jeff Gore accompanied by Jean Prescott, Jennie Benson, Katie Benson and Elizabeth Baiebe each with their musical instruments.